Lebanon: Nasrallah backs government as supporters clash at protest

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday doubled down on support for the presidency of Michel Aoun and the reforms of Prime Minister Saad Hariri as the only way to stop chaos. The Iran-backed group's leader said he is against the fall of the government or a Cabinet reshuffle. Nasrallah warned against the situation descending into general chaos, security disorder and "god forbid" a possible civil war. “Let the people in the protests choose representatives to hold talks with President Aoun,” he said. “Any solution to the current crisis should avoid a vacuum.” "People are calling for the downfall of the regime, but what does regime mean in Lebanon," he asked. Some protests have been financed by embassies and suspicious sides, he claimed, and used by political parties with scores to settle against Hezbollah and “implement foreign agendas”. “Social and livelihood demands have been diverted to target resistance”, he added. “We have information that an anti-resistance [Hezbollah] scheme is being prepared for Lebanon, Nasrallah said. “Lebanon has entered a dangerous phase, there are prospects that our country will be politically targeted by international, regional powers.” He didn’t directly accuse anyone but referenced the CIA as an example. While blocking roads was normal at the start of the protests, some acts have become unacceptable, he said but did not elaborate. He said protesters should continue but they should open roads to allow people to return to school and work, especially with the end of the month aproaching and people wanting to be paid. While he said Lebanese protesters had achieved something significant for forcing the government to agree to a budget proposal that did not include new taxes, he said that the movement needs to put forward demands. He also said the prime minister's reform paper, agreed in Cabinet on Monday as a response to the protests, was “unprecedented”. No Lebanese government had managed to pass such a package of reforms, Nasrallah said in his second address since the protests began last week. The reforms would not be just ink on paper but would be implemented, he said. “The cross-sectarian protests have restored the confidence of the Lebanese people in themselves,” he said but also warned that they were being taken over by political parties. He repeated his earlier warning against “politicising” the protests and said again that Hezbollah cannot take part in the rallies as they have to be “far from political affiliations”. His comments contrasted with the dozens of his party supporters who fought with protesters and the press in central Beirut on Friday, leaving a number of people injured. Thousands took to the streets of Beirut for a ninth day but, as had taken place the day before, a small group of Hezbollah supporters chanting "we heed your call, Nasrallah" entered Beirut’s Riad Al Solh square where people gathered. Local media reported several members of the press, including those from Reuters news agency, were attacked by the men. After scuffles with protesters waving Lebanese flags and chanting the chant that has become popular in the anti-government movement – "everyone means everyone" – the police tried to intervene. Internal Security Forces in riot gear moved to separate the Hezbollah supporters and push them back to another area, leading to scuffles with the police. With the atmosphere still tense, the crowd of thousands sang the national anthem. But Nasrallah said that while pro-Hezbollah protesters were just expressing another opinion, he urged them to leave the streets. Nasrallah last spoke on Saturday, the third day of the protests, and warned demonstrators that any attempt to topple the government would fail but boasted that if he ordered his supporters and fighters to the streets then they alone could achieve results – but doing so would draw accusations that the movement is led by Iran. His comments drew anger from those on the streets. Protests have raged in every area of Lebanon, sparked by anger at a raft of new taxes proposed for the 2020 state budget in an attempt to raise more funds for the government struggling under the third-highest debt-to-GDP level in the world. However, in the subsequent days, they have morphed into wider calls for a complete political change starting with the resignation of the government and president. Roads were still blocked on Friday, but the main highway leading to Beirut airport was open. Little traffic was on the streets in the usually car-clogged Lebanese capital. Police and the army have moved to keep key roads open as protesters seek to close off areas of the country. While areas in Beirut’s Achrafieh were closed as well as main roads around west Beirut’s Hamra, the main highway to the airport was open and police cleared people trying to block a highway to a major Adlieh roundabout on the edge of the city. While the protesters appeared smaller early on Friday, locals who have attended the protests throughout expected the numbers to swell through the afternoon and mass rallies to take place over the weekend.

Lebanon: Nasrallah backs government as supporters clash at protest

Hezbollah leader says the reforms will not be just ink on paper